The maverick leader of the Netherlands’ anti-Islamic Freedom Party demanded to
be part of the next Dutch government yesterday after a massive leap in
support in the general election.

Geert Wilders, 46, who campaigned for a ban on mosque-building and the Koran
and a tax on Muslim headscarves, was in negotiations to form a governing
coalition after his party secured 24 seats — up from nine — in Wednesday’s
poll. Its success pushed the ruling Christian Democrats into fourth place.

Mark Rutte, leader of VVD, the right-wing Liberals, is expected to become
Prime Minister after beating PvdA, the Labour Party, by 31